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Today is Chinita's day! What a Day! Let's celebrate our lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquira and visit her at her house La Basilica. Let's adore her and ask her to protect us and look after us.

November 18th is a very important day in our state. Today there will be many activities all around the state and specially here in Maracaibo. People will remember and rejoice in Chinita's honor.

Reading on wikipedia, we can find her story:

An old lady made a living by washing other people's clothes, a job she did every morning at the shores of the lake. On November 18th 1709 she took a bulk of clothes, and as usual, went to the lake to start washing them. This old lady was at her chores when she saw a wooden board floating towards her. She picked it up thinking that it might be of some use. When she finished her work, she went home carrying the clothes, the board and a small vase with fresh water. She then placed the board on top of the vase. Then, she noticed a small figure in the board but couldn't tell what it was.She fell asleep, and when she áwoke up it was already late and dark. She decided to go to a local grocery store to buy some candles.

On her way back a small gathering of people had formed outside her house, and after coming closer she noted that her home was filled with light. After entering she and some of the neighbors witnessed the small wooden board floating in the air surrounded by light with a bright crisp image of the Virgin Mary. At this, everyone was amazed and called the event a miracle.

Since that day the street where she lived was renamed "El Milagro" which means Miracle in Spanish, and to this day it is one of the most important streets in the neighborhood of "El Saladillo" in the city of Maracaibo.

To this day the wood with the image on it can still be seen in the Basilica in Maracaibo.Legend has it that the government decided that the wood with the image belonged in the capital city, Caracas. So they ordered it moved. As the soldiers following the order carried the image away from Maracaibo it got heavier and heavier until finally no one could lift it. They returned it to the basilica in Maracaibo where it has remained with the belief that no one can remove it.

The people of Maracaibo celebrate the Festival of La Chinita in November with an all night party. One of the main city streets, Bella Vista, is closed for several blocks and the city puts lights along the whole street. The lights stay up for months, until after Christmas. There are stages set up, sponsored by the government and businesses around the city. There are firework shows and street vendors, and hundreds of thousands of people line the streets and celebrate all night.

Also, one important part of the celebration is selecting a beauty queen for the fair. This year's winner was Leidys Orellano. accompany by her parents and sister. She was the representant of the B.O.D, an important Bank in our region.

Of course, sports are present in the celebration. There is one important game today. EL juego de Baseball de la Chinita... let's pray our lady to help us today... Chinita hacenos el milagrito de que ganen las Aguilas otra vez..... God bless our Chinita and our baseball team Aguilas del Zulia. Go team!!!!

This game have been played on this day since 1969. There have been 38 games and "Las Aguilas" have won 19 times. Also, on this day the Luis Aparicio Award is given to the best baseball players in Venezuela. Johan Santana, Magglio Ordóñez y Oswaldo Guillen, have been awarded with it. This year, Francisco Rodríguez, Carlos Zambrano y Omar Vizquel will receive their Luis Aparicio Awards. Congratulations to this wonderful Venezuela baseball players.

Another big thing in the Feria is the bull fight (La Corrida de Toros)... I personally don't like it but a lot of people like going to the bullfight ring and yell "Ole". This is a tradition that comes from Spain and in my opinion it is horrible... I'm against torture and violence. But that's just me.Now, what's your opinion about our fair? Did you enjoy our fair this year? Tell us what you did to enferiarte? Where did you go? how was it? What did you like the most? What you didn't like... if there's something you didn't like...

Looking forward to reading all the stories from this year celebration.

And Chinita....... Gloria a ti casta Señora! Happy Day!

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed working on this posting in honor to my chinita!

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Something to think about!

"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS."

Mahatma Gandhi

"I write entirely to find out what I am thinking, what I am looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear"Joan Didion